Injunction Law and Legal Definition

Injunctive relief consists of a court order called an injunction, requiring
an individual to do or not do a specific action. It is an extraordinary
remedy that courts utilize in special cases where preservation of the status
quo or taking some specific action is required in order to prevent possible
injustice. For example, in a custody case, an injunction may be used
to prevent a party from removing a child from the country. Injunctive relief
is an equitable remedy granted when money damages are not able to compensate
the plaintiff's violation of rights if an injunction is not granted. Failure
to comply with a notice of an injunction is punishable by being held in
contempt of court.

There are two types of injunctions: a preliminary injunction and a
temporary restraining order (TRO). The purpose of both is to maintain the
status quo -- to insure a plaintiff that the defendant will not either
make him or herself judgment-proof, or insolvent in some way, or to stop
him or her from acting in a harmful way until further judicial proceedings
are available. The court uses its discretionary power to balance the defendant's
due process rights against the possibility of the defendant becoming judgment-proof,
and the immediacy of the threat of harm to the plaintiff. Courts can also
issue preliminary injunctions to take effect immediately and effective
until a decision is made on a permanent injunction, which can stay in effect
indefinitely or until certain conditions are met. A mandatory injunction is one which orders a party to requires them to do something or perform an act. A restrictive injunction prevents a party from taking an action. In many jurisdictions,
plaintiffs demanding an injunction are required to post a bond.